Can-opener



V Patented Feb. 24, 1891.

S. E. PAINTER.

CAN OPENER.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL E. PAINTER, OF CRANBERRY, PENNSYLVANIA.

CAN-OPENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 446,883, dated February 24, 1891.

' Application filed December 1, 1890. Serial No. 373.103. (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL E. PAINTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cranberry, in the county of Venango and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can-0peners; and I do declare the following to be a full, c ear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention has relation to improvements in that class of devicesknown as canopeners, and it consists in the novel construction and arrangement of the same, all as will be hereinafter more fully described.

The annexed drawings, to which reference is made, fully illustrate my invention, in which- Figure 1 represents a side view of my improved can-opener. Fig. 2 is an edge view of the same. Fig. 3 is avertical sectional view, and Fig. 4 is a detail view.

Referring by letter to the accompanying drawings, A designates the can-opener, consisting of the handle portion a, the point or insertion portion b, which is provided with the olfset or shoulders c c, which latter rest upon and ride over the top of the can when the tool is in operation. and the cutter d, which is secured to the side of the handle, projects beyond the shoulder c and cuts the top in the usual circular manner.

The point or cutting end of this can-opener is provided with a slideway e, the lower end of which has outlets or openings ff on each side of the point of the tool, while the opposite end of said slideway has a shoulder g. Vithin this slideway is a movable plate or slide h, the lower end 71 of which is forked,

forming two spring-fingers L. i, which lie within the guideway when the slide is in its normal position. To the end j of the slide is secured a rod j, which passes through a staple k, the head Z of which rests in one or the other openings m m, formed in the side of the handle. It will thus be seen that the fingers when the tool is notin use are hidden from view, and are held in this position by the head of the rod engaging the top notch or opening aforesaid, and when itis desired to open a can the point of the opener is forced through the top thereof, after-Which the slide is forced downward by the rod, thus forcing outwardly the spring-fingers, which will then be within the can and below the top thereof, thereby retaining the top or lid between the two shoulders c c and the spring-fingers at the same ti me the head of the rod engages thelower notch and holds said fingers in position, and when said opener is so arranged as to grasp or hug the lid the opener cannot become accidentally displaced, and the cutting is performed with the greatest ease, and it is simple in operation, durable, and at the same time cheap to manufacture.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patcut, is

The can-opener described, consisting of the handle portion, the end for insertion in a can, having the shoulders and cutter, the slideway and slide provided with the fingers,' the rod secured to said slide, and means, substantially as described, for holding said rod in position.

In testimony whereof Iaffix my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

SAMUEL E. PAINTER.

Witnesses:

J. B. MOALLISTER, HARLEY W. FISHER. 

